Apparatus for feeding inserts from magazine to molding machine



L. H. MORIN Jan. 28, 1969 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING INSERTS FROM MAGAZINE TOMOLDING MACHINE Sheet Original Filed March 11, 1964 INVENTOR. Lou/5 HMon/1v I I H 72, 7/ 77 53 Jan. 28, 1969 MOR|N 3,423,792

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING INSERTS FROM MAGAZINE TO MOLDING MACH INE OriginalFiled March 11, 1964 Sheet 2 of4 I N VENTOR.

100/5 H Mom/v BY HTTORNEYS Jan. 28, 1969 APPARATUS FOR I.. H. MORIN3,423,792

FEEDING INSERTS FROM MAGAZINE TO MOLDING MACHINE Original Filed March11, 1964 Sheet 3 014 INVENTOR. L ours HI MGR/N BY A 644 L 7 r romvzvsUnited States Patent 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisdisclosure relates to machines for travelers and like plastic moldings,part of the resulting end product.

producing wherein inserts are Cross references This applicationconstitutes a division of my application Ser. No. 351,107, filed Mar.11, 1964 and now Patent No. 3,354,252.

Background of the invention The invention deals with an apparatusEmploying a pre-loaded magazine storing inserts, with means associatedwith the magazine for automatic stoppage of an automatic molding machineat a predetermined time to control re-loading of the magazine.

Summary The invention deals with an apparatus, wherein means is providedat the molding station for momentarily holding inserts at a pickupstation, together with means for picking up inserts at said pickupstation and delivering them to and supporting them at the moldingstation and, further, to the provision of means for guiding inserts of amolded traveler to a trimming and stripper station adjacent said moldingstation.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Brief description of drawings FIG. 1 is an enlarged detail view of amolded insert traveler produced according to my invention, with moldedparts of the traveler broken away to illustrate arrangement of theinsert therein.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, generally on the line 2-2 of FIG. 6, withparts of the construction shown in elevation and parts broken away andillustrating the pickup of an insert at the pickup station, with thesupport of an insert :at the molding station, part only of the inesrtsbeing shown in the insert delivery guide.

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view on the broken line 3-3 of FIG. 2, withparts of the construction shown in section and parts in elevation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the construction shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the lower portion of apre-loaded magazine and the upper portion of the guide for deliveringinserts to the pickup station illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing, partonly of the inserts being shown.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the structure, as seen in FIG. 2, with part ofthe structure in section and omitting parts shown in FIG. 2 and alsoomitting the insert.-

FIG. 7 is a partial section on the line 7-7 of FIGS.

and this application Oct.

2 and 3, both sections being represented on both figures for clarity.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view, similar to FIG. 1, showing parts in adifferent position to illustrate a molded insert traveler at thetrimming and stripper station.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic section on the broken line 9-9 of FIG. 8,assuming that the parts are in the position of FIG. 2 rather than thespecific showing in FIG. 8 and illustrating the dies in open position.

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the vertically arranged preloaded insertmagazine and its relationship to the upper portion of the deliverymeans, part of the magazine being broken away.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the magazine and associated parts only, asseen in FIG. 10, omitting the background showing; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view, generally similar to FIG. 8, showingonly parts of the construction and illustrating the method of picking uppairs of inserts and forming a pair of travelers at a molding station.

Description of preferred embodiment In illustrating one adaptation of myinvention, I have shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 1 of the drawing aside view of a traveler, with portions of the traveler broken away toillustrate mounting of an insert therein. The traveler comprises a longpart 15, having a hookshaped end 16 and a short angular end part 17joining 15 in a substantially V-shaped rod-like insert 18, which spaces17 from 15 and forms the rounded thread engaging portion 19 of thetraveler. 18 is preferably of a wear resistant material to provide longservice use of the traveler. The parts 15, 17 are formed from suitablemolded plastic material, such as nylon, delrin or the like.

Considering FIGS. 2, 5 and 10 of the drawing, in these figures I haveindicated generally at 20 a guide track or runway for directing inserts18 from a vertical storage hopper 21 to the insert pickup station 22 atthe lower portion of 20, as noted in FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

The hopper 21 comprises an elongated strip, having a Y-shaped recess 23extending longitudinally thereof and opening through one surface of thehopper, as seen at 24, note FIG. 11. Mounted in the upper endportion ofthe recess 23 is a Y-shaped follower 25, having an offset arm 26extending beyond one side of the hopper, as clearly noted in FIGS. 10and 11. Secured to the lower portion of the hopper is an offset bracket27 supporting a micr0- switch 28, having a yieldable member 29 foractuation of the button 30 of the microswitch. The bracket andmicroswitch will be located at a predetermined distance from the lowerend of the hopper, so as to provide an automatic stoppage of the machineforming the molded travelers, as later described. In other words, whenthe arm 26 of the follower engages and depresses 29 to actuate thebutton 30 of the microswitch, the machine will be stopped, there being afew of the inserts 18 at a position below the location of the switch.The track or runway 20 comprises an elongated bar 31 having a travelerreceiving recess 32 on the front surface thereof. The bar 31 may includean offset portion near its lower end, as indicated at 33 in FIG. 2 ofthe drawing, to offset the upper portion from the lower portion havingthe pickup station 22. Mounted on the recessed surface of the bar 31 areretainer and guide plates 34 and 35 which overlap the recess, asindicated in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawing, to retain the inserts 18against displacement from the recess 32.

At the upper portion of the bar 31 is an enlarged block or frame 36,having a rounded upper surface 37 and mounted in the recess 32, whichextends onto the surface 37, is a feed or pusher strip 38, shown insection in FIG. 10 of the drawing. Fixed to the end portion of thisstrip is the offset end 39 of an oscillated lever 40, diagrammaticallyshown in FIG. of the drawing, the lever being pivoted on 36, as seen at41. Mounted on a pin 42 on the face of the lever is a coupling end 43 ofa piston rod 44 extending from an air cylinder shown, in part, at 45 inFIG. 5 of the drawing, so that, in the operation of the molding machine,at predetermined intervals, inserts 18 will be picked up from the lowerend of the hopper and fed into the track for delivery to the pickupstation 22. For simplification, only part of these inserts are shown inFIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawing, it being understood that these insertswill extend throughout the length of the track 20 between the upperdelivery end having the feed 38 therein to the pickup end of the track,the delivery of the inserts being consistent with output of the insertsfrom the lower end of the track.

Fixed to the lower end of the side portion of the bar 31, to which 34 isattached, and extending beyond 34 and the bar is a guide strip 46 havinga widened side key portion 47 engaging the bar, as clearly noted in FIG.6 of the drawing.

The lower end of 34 terminates in an angular surface 34 at the pickupstation 22, as clearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The lower endportion of the strip 35 projects below the end 34 and this end portionof the bar 31 is recessed to receive an escape lever 48, pivoted as seenat 49 in FIG. 2. The lever has a lower otfset insert checking end 50 forretaining a last or lower insert at the pickup station 22. The upper endof the lever 48 has an offset 51 engaged by one end of a coil spring 52mounted on a pin 53 in the bar 31, the other end portion 54 of thespring engaging said bar. The spring end 52 normally urges the offsetend 50 into operative position. The lever 48 has an elongated apertureengaged by a pin 56 to check movement of the lever in both directions,as clearly indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

Below the station 22 and in predetermined spaced relationship thereto isa molding station 57 comprising a pair of relatively movable dies, onedie being shown at 58 in FIGS. 2 and 8, and the companion die beingshown, in part, at 58 in FIG. 9, where the dies are illustrated in openposition. The dies collectively form mold cavities 59 and 60, note FIG.8, for respectively forming the parts 15 and 17 of the resultingtraveler, as shown in FIG. 2. Extending to these cavities are gates orrunners 61, 62 which extend from a ring-like cavity 63, into which theprimary gate 64 extends, the cavity 63 forming, as part of the moldingstation, a ring-like member 65 on a transfer core pin 66 arrangedbetween the dies. The pin 66 is utilized for moving the molded travelerassemblage from the molding station 57 to a trimming and formingstation, as at 67 FIG. 8 of the drawing, where runners 68 and 69 aretrimmed from 15 and 17, respectively, after which, the ring 65 isstripped from the core 66, as this pin moves upwardly to its normal ormolding position, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. In otherwords, after the molding operation has been performed at the station 57,the pin moves the molded assemblage to the position shown at thetrimming and stripper station 67, FIG. 8 at the same time a new inserthas been positioned in registration with the cavities 59 and 60, asindicated at 18' in FIG. 8 of the drawing. In FIGS. 2, 8 and 9, I haveindicated, in part, at 70 the injection nozzle which registers with 64in the injection stroke of the machine and is moved to the surface ofone of the dies, as, for example, the die 58' of FIG. 9 when the diesare opened to seal the end of the nozzle, preparatory to the nextmolding operation.

In picking up inserts from the pickup station and delivering them to themolding station, as indicated in FIG. 8 of the drawing, I provide apickup and feed mechanism, comprising a pair of grippers 71, 71, whichare generally of the same construction, the grippers being pivotallysupported on rods 72, 72' mounted in connection with an enlargcd endportion 73 of an arm 74, note FIG. 6, adjustably secured to a plate 75,as by screws 76 operating in elongatcd apertures 77 in the plate 75,note FIG. 2.

Between the plate and the arm 74 is a spacer 78, the thickness of whichwill control vertical location of the engagement of the grippers 71, 71with the insert when supported at the pickup station, as indicated at18" in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The grippers have contracted ends, asclearly noted in FIG. 2 of the drawing, and the contracted end portionshave opposed gripper surfaces, as indicated at 79, 79' in FIG. 3 of thedrawing. Both grippers are recessed to receive a spring 80, whichnormally supports 79, 79' in spaced relationship to the guide 46 and theinsert, but sufficiently close to the insert to provide a guide thereforin movement of the formed traveler from the casting station 57 to thestation 67. The opposed ends of the grippers 71, 71 have inwardlydirected opposed rounded portions 81, 81 engaged by a V-shaped orcontracted end 82 on the projected end of a piston 83 mounted in an aircylinder 84 having means, as at 85, for coupling a compressed air supplypipe 36 to the cylinder, the latter being shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawing. The head end of the piston 83 is enlarged and recessed, as seenat 87 in FIG. 3, and engaging this enlarged end is a coil spring 88arranged in the cylinder for normally urging the piston into theinoperative position shown. When air is admitted under pressure, the end82 moves to the right, as shown in FIG. 3, moving the jaw ends 79, 79'into gripping engagement with an insert at the pickup station 22 intransfer of this insert to the molding station 57, as illustrated inFIG. 8 of the drawing, the grippers being shown at the pickup station inFIG. 2. However, in this figure, the piston has not been advanced toestablish the engagement. The cylinder 84 has an exhaust port 89 forexhausting air from the cylinder to provide free action of the piston.

Adjustably mounted on the cylinder 84 is a bracket 90, note FIG. 2, theadjustment being by means of two screws 91 operating in elongatedapertures 92 in the bracket. This adjustment is to control position of aswitch plate 93 mounted on an insulated block 94 supported on an offsetend 95 of the bracket. The other end of the bracket is offset, as seenat 96, to support an adjustment screw 97 in accurately gaugingadjustment of the bracket to control spacing of 93 from the forwardcontracted end 82 of the piston 83 with respect to 93, so that, in theevent that an insert is not positioned at the station 22, as noted at18", the end 82 will strike the switch plate and complete a circuitthrough a wire 98 supported on a screw 99 fixed to the plate. Hereagain, the wire 98 will be in a circuit controlling stoppage of themolding machine. It will clearly appear that the upper end of 93 ispositioned between the two grippers inwardly of the ends 81, 81'. Thisis also clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 of the drawing.

Also supported on the rods or studs 72, 72' at their lower ends is asubstantially triangular-shaped auxiliary guide unit 100, note FIG. 9,having inwardly directed and opposed guide portions 101 beyond a recessportion 102 of the unit, the recess 102 clearing the insert guideextension 46 and the spacing of 101 is such as to prevent relativeswinging movement of the insert, as the insert is moved from the moldingstation to the trimming and stripper station. It will be apparent that,when the grippers are moved to the pickup station 22 in FIG. 2, the unitis positioned at the molding station 57 so that, when the moldedtraveler assemblage is moved from the molding station 57 to the trimmingand stripper station 67, this assemblage will be guided by the unit 101,as the pin 66 moves the assemblage to the station 67.

The dies, or at least One of the dies, will have an extension 103 at thetrimming or stripper station and suitable trimming tools, not shown,will trim off the runners 68 and 69 and the ring 65 will be strippedfrom the lower surface 104 of the dies proper after the trimmingoperation has been performed and as the core pin 66 is moved upwardlyfrom the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 2.

In the diagrammatic showing of FIG. 9 of the drawing, the sectionthrough the dies are on the broken line indicated in FIG. 8, in otherwords, presumably to extend through the cavity 59 formed by both dies,but not showing the cavity 63, which would form the ring 65. In FIG. 9,the completely molded assemblage is diagrammatically illustrated in abottom view illustration.

Considering FIG. 6 of the drawing, it will appear that the bar 31extends into a recessed portion 105 of the plate 75 and the end portion106 of the plate is apertured, as seen at 107, to receive the transferrod 66, the end 106 being slitted, as seen at 108, and a screw 109passes through the slitted portion in securely clamping the rod 66 tothe plate 75. It is through this engagement that the means employed foractuating the rod 66 moves the entire assemblage including the grippers71, 71', the cylinder 84 and the associated parts including theauxiliary guide 100 into the raised and lowered positions 'described inmoving the respective parts to the stations identified.

From the foregoing, the operation of the apparatus, as diagrammaticallyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the foregoing description, with the followingbrief statement.

The inserts are constantly fed to and delivered to the pickup station bythe means disclosed and, as an insert, such as 18" is picked up at thestation 22, the insert forces the lever against the action of the springemployed to free the lower insert for delivery to the station 57;whereupon, the next successive insert of the track 20 is immediatelypicked up and held by the lever at the station 22, until such time asthis next successive insert is picked up by the grippers, preparatory tothe next molding operation. The insert is supported at the mold ingstation 57 by the grippers until the dies 58, 58' are closed and untilthe plastic material is pressure injected into the cavities; whereupon,the grippers return to the pickup station and the auxiliary guide 100 isbrought into registering engagement with the insert at the moldingstation, as shown in FIG. 2. Then as the next successive insert is movedby the grippers to the molding station, the pre-forrned travelerassemblage at the molding station 57 is moved to the trimming andstripper station 67 with the dies in open position; whereupon, the diesare partially closed for performing the stripping operation, removingthe trimmed runners, including the ring 65, then the dies are fullyclosed, with the core pin 66 in its raised position as shown in FIG. 2and the above cycle of operationis repeated.

In the modification diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 12 of thedrawing, 22 represents a pickup station and 57 represents a moldingstation and at 20' is shown the lower portion of a track or runway,generally similar to the track or runway 20, and modified to the extentof being sufiiciently long to support two escape levers 110 and 111arranged one above the other, the levers being pivoted at 112 and 113,both levers having, at their lower ends, insert engaging offsets 114 and115 and coil springs 116 and 117 are employed to normally urge thelevers into operative position, which position is checked by stops 118and 119. The lever 110 has a lateral or outward offset 120 at its upperend adapted to be engaged by an air actuated plunger 121 arranged in acylinder 122, air being admitted to the cylinder, a seen at 123 by apipe or tube coupled therewith.

At 124, 124' I have shown two grippers, similar to the grippers shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, adapted to pick up a pair of inserts 125,125' supported by the levers 110 and 111, as diagrammaticallyillustrated. At 46 is shown a guide strip, similar to the strip 46, forguidance of the inserts from the pickup station 22' to the moldingstation 57. At 126 I have shown at the station 57 the face view of oneof the dies, which will be employed for forming a pair of travelers 127,127' on the pair of inserts when delivered to the molding station.

After the molding operation, the molded travelers, together with theirinserts, are supported by a pair of guide units 128, 128, similar to theunit shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 of the drawings, for guidance of the pair ofmolded travelers to the trimming and stripper station 67' at the lowersurface of the die 126, in the manner diagrammatically illustrated inFIG. 8 of the drawing. The s'prue gate and runners directed to thecavities forming the two travelers 127, 127' is generally identified bythe reference character 129, it being noted that a runner extendingbetween the two cavities is included at 130.

The operation of the modified showing in FIG. 12 differs slightly fromthe showing in FIGS. 1 to 11, inclusive, from the standpoint that,instead of delivering a number of the inserts to the track or runway,the machine will be operated from the standpoint of first delivering oneinsert to the runway by actuation of the feed or pusher strip, as at 38in FIG. 5, to deliver one insert and, before this delivery, the plunger121 is actuated to move the escape lever into inoperative position, asindicated in dotted lines in FIG. 12, so that the delivery insert willextend to and be checked by the lever 111; thereupon, the air isshut-off from the cylinder 122, the spring 116 will return the lever 110to the operative position; whereupon the next insert is delivered andsupported in the position shown at 125, whereupon, the two grippers 124,124' will deliver the pair of inserts t the molding station 57', thetravelers 127, 127' then formed thereon, after which, the grippers willreturn to the position shown in FIG. 12 and the guide units 128, 128'will be moved into the position shown in FIG. 12, preparatory to thefeed of the molded products to the trimming and stripper station 67',this being done through the medium of a transfer core rod, similar tothe rod 66 shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, and omitted from FIG. 12 forsimplifying this illustration.

In the aforesaid operation, it will also be apparent that, during themolding operation and when the grippers are in the lowered positionsupporting the inserts between the dies, one of which is shown at 126,inserts could be delivered to the position shown at 125, throughactuation of the plunger 121, so that, upon return of the grippers tothe position shown in FIG. 12, the grippers will be maintained in theiropen position and closed to engage and grip the inserts, preparatory tomoving the pair of inserts to the molding station. In this manner, therewill be no loss of time in each cycle of operation of the entireapparatus.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for producing molded plastic products including inserts,which consists in providing a molding station with an adjacent andalined insert pickup station, providing in spaced relation to the pickupstation a magazine preloaded with inserts, a guide track at the base ofsaid magazine for delivering inserts to the pickup station,automatically actuated mean for pickup up inserts one at a time from themagazine for delivery to said guide track, yieldably supported means atthe pickup station for retaining inserts at said station in alinedposition with respect to cavity portions of dies at the molding station,a pair of automatically actuated grippers movable between the pickup andmolding stations for pickup inserts at the pickup station and deliveringthe same to and supporting the same at the molding station, pressureinjection plastic material into cavities of the dies at the moldingstation and onto the insert supported at said station, forming part ofthe molded product on a transfer core pin supported in the dies,actuating said pin to move the molded product from the molding stationwhen the dies are in open position to a trimming and stripper station,and providing means movable with said grippers for guidance of themolded product in its movement from the molding station to the trimmingand stripper station.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means automaticallyactuating the grippers comprises an air actuated piston movable withsaid grippers, and means actuated by said piston for automaticallystopping molding operations in the event of the failure of an insert tobe positioned at the pickup station.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein means is employed foradjustably supporting said last named means.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means is employed foradjustable support of said grippers.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein tensional means isemployed for movement of the grippers into inoperative position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said last named meanscomprises a stationary guide strip and an auxiliary guide unit movablewith the grippers longitudinally of said strip, and said guide stripguiding the molded product in its movement from the molding station tosaid trimming station.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided at themagazine for automatic stoppage of the molding operation at a time whenthe magazine requires re-loading.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first named meanscomprises an air actuated lever actuating a pusher strip for delivery ofinserts to said guide track.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said guide track includesmeans for support of the inserts in predetermined position for deliveryto the pickup station.

10. An apparatus for producing molded plastic products includinginserts, which consists in providing a molding station with an adjacentand alined insert pickup station, providing in spaced relation to thepickup station a magazine pre-loaded with inserts, a guide track at thebase of said magazine for delivering inserts to the pickup station,automatically actuated means for picking up inserts one at a time fromthe magazine for delivery to said guide track, a pair of yieldablysupported means at the pickup station for retaining inserts at saidstation in alined position with respect to cavity portions of dies atthe molding station, two pairs of automatically actuated grippersmovable between the pickup and molding stations for picking up a pair ofinserts at the pickup station and delivering the same to and supportingthe same at the molding station, pressure injecting plastic materialinto cavities of the dies at the molding station and onto the insertssupported at said station, forming part of the molded products on atransfer core pin supported in the dies, actuating said pin to move themolded products from the molding station when the dies are in openposition to a trimming and stripper station, and providing means movablewith said grippers for guidance of the pair of molded products in theirmovement from the molding station to the trimming and stripper station.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein one of the yieldablysupported means at the pickup station is air actuated to free an insertfor delivery to the other of said means in providing support of twoinserts in proper spaced relationship to each other for engagement bythe pair of grippers at the pickup station.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein means is employed forretaining the yieldably supported means in insert engaging position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,556 3/1961 Morin 1830 X3,172,149 3/1965 Kornmayer 18--36 3,303,256 2/1967 Morin 264-275 WILBURL. MCBAY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

